11 Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the Law, then you are no longer one who obeys the Law, but one who judges it.
12 God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else? (GNB)
This section continues the discussion about life together as a church. It is about the way we treat others, especially the things you say about other believers.
V. 11 - “Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the Law, then you are no longer one who obeys the Law, but one who judges it.” -
“Do not criticize one another“ - The word here, ‘criticize’, (used three times) is sometimes translated ‘slander’ or ‘speak evil against’. We think of slander as lies and accusations made against another person when they are not present. We are saying bad things about that person who is not present to defend themselves or rebut our accusations. Slander is a sin of judgement and pride; to speak evil about people when they can't defend themselves. ”It is a harsh and uncharitable spirit that is ever finding fault with other people, whether to their face or behind their back.” (See: Note 1)
I will confess that I found it difficult to understand how ‘criticizing’ another believer is a sin. How is ‘slander’ a sin, and the same as ‘speak evil’ which is a sin? I had to stop and ponder this for a while. How is slander placing myself above the law?
I think I can explain this way: The Law, whether our civil law or that which is from the Bible, is the ‘standard’ which you measure yourself or your actions against. Does your action show obedience or flagrance compared to the standard? If you do not violate the standard there is no problem. If you do violate, you have sinned. I think the answer is in the ninth commandment (Exo. 20:16) and Jesus’ command (John 13:34) - don’t tell lies and love each other.
We can add Jesus’ answer to the question about which was the great commandment: “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ” (Matt 22:36-39)
I think I understand: If what I say about another is not said in Jesus’ love, it is a sin.
“Judge another Christian” - A reason to not criticize each other: We are “brothers”, family - See Gal 6:10 - “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
“If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the law” - Another reason to keep from slander - you are placing yourself above God’s Law. Not the Ten Commandments (and subsequent laws), but the Law as pronounced by Jesus “You shall love one another.” (Cf.: John 13:34-35, 15:12; Rom 12:10, 12:8; Eph 4:2; 1 Thes 3:12; 1 Pet 1:22).
You are saying you do not need to follow Jesus commands. “Laws keep people in line, they do not liberate. They are boundaries for a civil life.” [See note 2] Doing what you ‘think is right’ by your own estimation indicates you do not think the laws apply to you; placing yourself above or outside the law. You have ‘judged’ that the law is of no importance.
V. 12 - “God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?” -“Who do you think you are” - God alone gave us the Law. He alone is above and beyond the Law. “For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us” (Isa 33:22). Also, Cf.: (Deut. 32:39; 2 Ki 5:7a.)
“He alone can save and destroy.” - Jesus told us, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mat 10:28).
We should be careful to not confuse slander of another believer with confronting sinful behavior in a believer. We are urged to confront evil actions in other believers because their actions will damage the witness of the church. See: Mt 18:15-17 - reprove your brother, alone or with help; or, Tit 2:15 - speak, exhort, reprove; and, Tit. 3:10 - reject a factions man.
If we ‘speak evil’ against someone, see: Ps 50:16-20 - ‘slander, or defame your brother’; or, Rom 1:29 - ‘filled with unrighteousness...’; and, Tit 2:3 - ‘malicious gossips’. These are all problems related to our self-controlled spirit not following or obeying the Spirit of God working in us.
***Note 1: King, Guy H.; “A Belief That Behaves”; Christian LIterature Crusade; Marshall, Morgan, & Scott, Ltd.; 1967.
Note 2: Brian Simmons; “Wrapped in Christ”; Broadstreet Publishing Group, LLC; 2022.
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